Ukrainian community in Jordan

UkrainiancommunityinJordan

Ukrainian community in Jordan mainly consists of women citizens of Ukraine married to citizens of Jordan and children of mixed marriages.

Starting from Soviet Union, a large number of Jordanians have come to Ukraine to get higher education. Nowadays, more than 3,000 Jordanian students continue to study in Ukraine. Many of them create families with Ukrainian citizens and go back to Jordan. Children from such mixed marriages get Ukrainian citizenship by birth.

As of April 5, 2018, 803 Ukrainian citizens (598 adults and 205 minors) are registered in counselor section. According to official Jordanian data, 1 791 Ukrainian women married to Jordanians and live in Kingdom. According to the Embassy’s information, the number of Ukrainian citizens in the Kingdom is about 5 thousand people.

Most of Ukrainian citizens live in the largest cities in Jordan - Amman, Zarqa, Madaba, Irbid, Aqaba, Karak.

With the assistance of the Embassy, the unification of the Ukrainian community in Jordan has taken place. An important result of the work was the launch and grand opening on September 3, 2016 CulturalCenter "Ukrainian House in Jordan," which was dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of Ukraine's Independence. Also, on December 30, 2016, with the support of the diplomatic mission, the official opening ceremony of the UkrainianCulturalCenter "Vodograi" was held, which was closed on October 1, 2017 due to the difficult financial situation.

The purpose of the cultural center "Ukrainian House in Jordan" is to promote Ukrainian language and culture among the Ukrainian and local communities. There are such classes as: Ukrainian and Arabic languages, art, fine art, modern dance, traditional hopak, fitness for kids and others. In addition, on February 2017, at the initiative of the diplomatic mission, the UkrainianCulturalCenter "Ukrainian House in Jordan" hosted the 7th International language and literary competition for students of the name of Taras Shevchenko among the Ukrainian community in Jordan. Following the results of the competition, 6 pupils of the "Ukrainian House in Jordan" were awarded with Diplomas I, II, III degrees of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and became the only representatives from Asian, African and South American countries. The winners were also children from 6 countries: USA, Moldova, Great Britain, Russia and children from Jordan. On February 17, 2018, "Ukrainian House in Jordan" hosted for the Second time the 8th International language and literary contest for students of the name of Taras Shevchenko among the Ukrainian community in Jordan, which was opened by the Ambassador of Ukraine.

In May 2017, with the assistance of the diplomatic mission, representatives of the Ukrainian community in Jordan took part in the II International project-competition "Taras Shevchenko unites nations " held by the International League of Mothers and Sisters of Youth of Ukraine with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. Following the results of the contest, the Jordanian opera singer Zeina Barkhum was awarded the Grand Prix for the skillful embodiment of Shevchenko's spirit in her own creativity and propaganda of the ideas of the Great Kobzar. "Ukrainian House in Jordan" received a diploma of the 2nd degree, for the performance of the author's song "Oh, Kobzar" by the words of Victoria Brychkova - Abu Qadum and the music of Olga Zavidnyak.

On October 26, 2017, an evening of Ukrainian song and poetry in Amman was held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Jordan, the Day of Ukrainian Language and Written Language, and the celebration of the first anniversary of the Ukrainian Cultural Center “Ukrainian House in Jordan “. The event was financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the diplomatic mission. In addition, in November 2017, the official presentation of the book by Ukrainian poet Viktoriya Brychkova-Abu Qadum "The Flight Bird " was issued, with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ukraine. This is the first book in Ukrainian issued in Jordan.

On March 31, 2018, was held a concert dedicated to the completion of the celebration of Shevchenko's days. Members of "Ukrainian House in Jordan" performed new songs and poems, the records will be sent to the Competition Committee "Taras Shevchenko unites nations." Well-known Ukrainian artist Ivan Marchuk attended the event, and wished success to participants.

On April 1-7, 2018, the Ukrainian community visited the exhibition "The Voice of My Soul" by I. Marchuk at the RoyalCulturalCenter.